Nursing students: medication use, psychoactive substances and health conditions

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the use of nonprescription psychoactive medications and their associations with psychoactive substance use and health aspects among nursing students. Method: a cross-sectional study conducted with 182 students at a nursing school in the city of Vale do Ribeira, Brazil. Sociodemographic information, screening for alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, information on physical and mental health and physical activity practices were assessed. Results: more than half of the students (79.2%) used psychoactive drugs without prescription, with a predominance of monthly consumption. Consumption of these drugs was found to be associated with alcohol use, binge drinking, smoking and illicit drug use. Conclusion: the findings have implications for the implementation of health promotion strategies among nursing students, in view of lifestyle changes.